But the last two weeks have changed Fridley’s life, and hopefully inspired many other children with special needs to reach for their dreams just like he did.

The Illinois teen found out that his dream of graduating high school and going on to college would all happen this year when he received a college acceptance letter from the University of Iowa. Carter Fridley will graduate from high school on his 20th birthday, an experience he’s been looking forward to for years.

According to the Belvidere North senior’s mother, Becky, she didn’t really understand how to respond when he started saying his junior year of high school that he wanted to go to college. Saying to WIFR “I’m like, I really didn’t know what that meant.”

Soon, Carter’s mother did understand. When the young man received an acceptance letter in the mail from the University of Iowa the whole family was in a state of disbelief.

When he opened the letter, “It said congratulations, I got accepted,” Cater said with tears in his eyes.

Now his family is trying to figure out how to pay for school and prepare him for college.

Last week, the inspiring video of Fridley opening up his acceptance letter went viral. The young man’s emotional reaction was truly moving.

Carter will leave for the University of Iowa Reach Program in August, and plans to study to be a chef.

According to its website, The University of Iowa Reach Program is a two-year certificate program for students facing various intellectual, cognitive and learning disabilities.